Real Brownfields Deserve Dollars I
read with interest the story on Brownfield development dollars in the
July 20 issue. I applaud Dan Lathrop and other county commissioners who
voted “No” on the Randolph Street project...

Hopping Mad Carlin
Smith is hopping mad (“Will You Get Mad With Me?” 7-20-15). Somebody
filed a fraudulent return using his identity, and he’s not alone. The AP
estimates the government “pays more than $5 billion annually in
fraudulent tax refunds.” Well, many of us have been
hopping mad for years. This is because the number one tool Congress has
used to fix this problem has been to cut the IRS budget –by $1.2 billion
in the last 5 years...

Just Grumbling, No Solutions Mark
Pontoni’s grumblings [recent Northern Express column] tell us much
about him and virtually nothing about those he chooses to denigrate. We
do learn that Pontoni may be the perfect political candidate. He’s
arrogant, opinionated and obviously dimwitted...

A Racist Symbol I
have to respond to Gordon Lee Dean’s letter claiming that the
confederate battle flag is just a symbol of southern heritage and should
not be banned from state displays. The heritage it represents was the
treasonous effort to continue slavery by seceding from a democratic
nation unwilling to maintain such a consummate evil...

Not So Thanks I
would like to thank the individual who ran into and knocked over my
Triumph motorcycle while it was parked at Lowe’s in TC on Friday the
24th. The $3,000 worth of damage was greatly appreciated. The big dent
in the gas tank under the completely destroyed chrome badge was an
especially nice touch...

FeaturesExpress Staff
The series kicks off Feb. 4 with Hollywood veteran Vince Gilligan. He
will appear onstage with NWS founder Doug Stanton to discuss his writing
for AMC’s hit series “Breaking Bad.” Entertainment Weekly, NPR,
Hollywood Reporter and Paste magazine all named the show #1 on their
lists of 2011 Best TV Shows, with Stephen King naming the program #1 on
his list of 2011 Pop Culture Favorites, hailing it as “an American
classic.”

An annual gathering of comic book fans in Traverse City has spawned a community of comic book creators.

FeaturesPatrick Sullivan
“[Lee] brought his portfolio to show Ethan Van Sciver,” Meeuwes said. “And I looked at it and we just kind of talked because he was a new comic book nerd in the area that I’d never met. I thought he should become one of the group. I was like, this is really good.

French native Cyrille Aimee grew up cavorting with Gypsies.

MusicKristi Kates
Aimee’s latest inspirations have resulted in her newest album, “It’s a Good Day.” It was recorded in New York City at Flux Studios, a vintage room with modern equipment that has helmed other recording projects by The Black Crowes, Duncan Sheik, Santigold, Jennifer Lopez, and Queen Latifah.

MusicKristi Kates
From the blues of Detroit to maritime tunes, lumberjack chants to love ballads, Lomax captured the state’s musical traditions on his machine, which recorded audio directly to vinyl. Today, two local organizations are exposing these 75-year-old recordings to a whole new – but digitally obsessed – generation.

MusicRoss Boissoneau
You can begin with the biggest show out there, boasting enough lights for a small city, fog to cover the eastern seaboard and blasts of pyrotechnics felt halfway to the back of the arena. The Trans-Siberian Orchestra is bringing “The Christmas Attic”.

ArtKristi Kates
While the lineup of guests at your holiday table might be different and trends in tree decorations and wrapping paper constantly shift, you can almost always count on hearing multiple renditions of “Santa Baby” in every store and seeing performances of “The Nutcracker” and “A Christmas Carol” in every town, year after year.

DatesJamie Kauffold
Santa Claus seems to be everywhere these days, but you can catch him for a special reading of “The Night Before Christmas” at the Traverse Area District Library, TC this Sat., Dec. 20 at 11am. Other activities include making magic reindeer food, & enjoying “The Polar Express” story time.